Table leveler



R. K. GRAY F led Nov. 3, 1934 Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a device applicable to the lower end of a table leg or other article of furniture and adjustable to vary the height of the table at such point whereby, in conjunction with other similar devices applied to remaining legs of the table, to efiect a leveling of its sur-* face. An appliance of this character is particularly useful with game tables whereon balls are adapted to roll.

It is an object of this invention to produce a table leveler which is inexpensive, easily applied to the lower end of a table leg, readily operable, and which is self-adjusting to irregularities in the floor surface whereon the device may rest. Such an appliance utilizes a screw-threaded shank or stem which is rotated to effect vertical adjustments. In addition, it is equipped at its lower end with a foot which rests upon the floor to support the shank. According to my invention this foot which may be produced by a stamping operation is so contoured in relation to the shank as to engage therewith over a wide area of surface irrespective of the angular tilted position which it may assume with respect to the axis of the shank. In addition, the foot is secured irremovably in place, and while tiltable to various angular positions is locked non-rotatably to the shank so as to serve as a medium by which a rotative force may be transmitted to the shank for its adjustment to a desired position.

An appliance of this kind is suggested in the accompanying drawing wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the appliance in its entirety shown in operative relation to the lower end of the table leg which is also illustrated in section;

' Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section showing the foot in angular tilted position with respect to the axis of the shank.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, I have here illustrated the lower end of a table leg L having therein a socket 4 which extends inwardly from its bottom. Fitted against the bottom end of the leg is a mounting plate P having a central boss or sleeve 5 which extends within the socket sufficiently to center the plate in position. As by means of nails or screws 6, inserted through holes I in the plate for anchorage in the table leg, the plate may be fixedly secured in place.

The boss or sleeve 5 defines a circular opening which is interiorly threaded to receive a screwthreaded shank S upon which is screwed a lock nut N adapted to bear tightly against the underside of the plate, as shown. In its lower region the shank is enlarged and formed into a spherical body to provide a ball shoulder l0 below which is a neck H terminating in a widened head l2. Fitted irremovably to the shank is a foot C hav- 5 ing a general cup-shape with an outwardly extending marginal flange 15 adapted to rest upon a fioor or other supporting base. The foot is centrally apertured as at It, and its walls surrounding the aperture are inturned to provide a rounded reentrant portion or flange l1 whose contour follows closely that of the ball Ill. The diameter of the foot opening 16 is such as to fit loosely around the neck. The widened head in conjunction with the ball acts to confine the foot 1 in place. The supporting surface afforded by the rounded flange ll presents a wide area of contact with the ball shoulder I0 regardless of whether or not the foot lies transversely to the axis of the shank, as shown in Fig. 1, or whether 20 it be tilted to an angular position, as suggested in Fig. 3. This capacity for tilting movement is made possible by reason of the loose fit around the shank neck. The range of movement need not be great in order to enable the foot to adjust 25 itself to any normal irregularities of a floor or support base.

1 provide at a point on the neck a wing 20 extending radially, as shown best in Fig. 2. This wing fits loosely into a radial recess 2| formed at one side of the opening IS. The fit of the noncircular neck within the non-circular recess is such as to provide between the foot and shank an interlock which through the cooperation of the head l2, prevents relative rotation therebetween, while permitting angular tilting movement of the foot, as may be required in use. Accordingly, the foot which is of large diameter as compared with the shank may be easily grasped for the application to the shank of a rotative force suificient for all purposes of adjustment. This is important because otherwise the shank would be rather inaccessible, requiring a special tool for its manipulation.

It 'is found that a table leveler answering to this description may be produced and installed economically, Its adjustment to the level required may be made without the aid of tools. In addition, the foot which bears against the floor or other supporting surface is enabled to adjust itself angularly of the shank axis, as required by irregularities of the floor surface, thereby distributing evenly over its marginal flange the load which is transmitted from the table above through the shank and ball shoulder to the rounded flange of the foot over a substantial surface area.

I claim:

1. A levelling device for the legs of furniture, comprising a shank having a body at its lower end formed with a spherical lower face, a cup shaped foot having a non-circularly apertured reentrant portion swivelly mounted on said body, a non circular neck projecting from said body through the aperture in said foot, said neck being of substantiallyless diameter than the aperture in said foot, whereby said parts are free for relative angular tilting movement, and a head on said neck adapted to engage the underside of said foot and hold said parts in non-rotative relationship.

2. A levelling device for the legs of furniture comprising a threaded sleeve adapted to be secured to the end of a leg, a shank threaded into said threaded sleeve and having an enlarged body at its lower end formed with a spherical lower end, a pressed metal cup shaped foot having a marginal flange and a non-circularly apertured reentrant portion swivelly mounted on said body, a non-circular neck projecting from said body through the aperture in said foot, said neck being of substantially less diameter than the aperture in said foot, whereby said parts are free for relative angular tilting movement, and a head on said neck adapted. to engage the underside of said foot and hold said parts in non-rotative relationship.

RAYMOND K. GRAY. 

